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Topic : 04/11 What Are You Afraid Of?

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Created on : Friday, April 07, 2006, 10:06:42 am

Author : DrPhilBoard1

Your heart starts to pound. You start to shake. You begin to sweat. You feel faint ... What is it that scares the heck out of you? It may seem ridiculous and irrational to others, but fears and phobias can keep you from living life to the fullest. Donna is terrified of scary movies, but her husband really wants to watch them together. Get a sneak preview of Dr. Phil's most recent "scary" experience. Will it lighten Donna's view of horror films? Also, how do you get over a fear of costumed characters, cotton, or aliens? Plus, a celebrity's near-death experience turned his whole life around. What are you afraid of? Tell us.

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04/11 What Are You Afraid Of?

I don't get why people feel the need to trivialize the fears of their loved ones. Where's the support in that? I am afraid of spiders, huge/tall bridges and heights. If my husband or anyone else were to throw me on a bridge, on a cliff, or throw spiders on me, I'd have to really re evaluate how I felt about those people and how they felt about me. Our spouses, family members and friends are supposed to be there to support us and to help us if we need it, not sign us up for our own personal fear factor.

The spouses of the guests who are afraid of people in costume and scary movies most likely have thier own fears. Part of me would love to see how tough they were when someone forced them into an uncomfortable situation, then called them a wimp or told them to get over it.&nbsp

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Unless I missed something, I am somewhat surprised that Dr. Phil didn't say more about the unsupportive spouses. &nbsp

Greatest fear?

I hate horror movies

I cannot watch slasher horror movies. I can watch horror movies like The Exorcist because there isn't a psychopathic killer stalking people in movies like that. But try to put a Nightmare on Elm Street or Friday the 13th in the DVD player and I bolt. If I watch one of these movies, I have nightmares. Most people think they are funny movies because the plotlines are terrible and the effects were on the silly side; the problem is, I keep seeing some lunatic watching these movies getting ideas. I worry about nutjobs trying to copy the acts they see on these movies. This is what scares me. I know there is no such thing as Freddy or Jason or Michael Meyers. I also know that there are some strange people out there. It's the possible reality that scares me, I think.&nbsp

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I am also afraid of driving into a lake. My dad would fish at a lake every weekend during the summer months when I was little, and to keep me from getting out of the truck while she took my dad dinner, my mom would tell me if I moved I would make the truck roll straight into the lake and I would drown. I love water and I love boating, but I HATE driving anywhere near a body of water. I have to breathe deep to go over bridges that cross rivers or lakes. Crazy, huh?&nbsp

Thankyou

I am an American, and for the record, I happen to love the wonderful city of London. I have been there twice and am starting to plan my next visit. Why did I mention that? It is because I, an American have found a common ground with you. If I ran into you, we would probably have a lovely conversation about what a great place London is. That is, if you could get past your feelings about Americans and talk to me in the first place!!! Yes, you had a bad experience with A FEW people who happened to be Americans. But it is so unfair to judge a population of 300 million people by the rude actions of a few. I have been fortunate to have many frineds in my lifetime-caucasian, African-American, Hispanic, Asian to name a few. That is because I choose friends based on their inner qualities and don't reject someone because they have different origins than I do. And I would have missed out on so many good things if I hadn't had these varied friendships.

So, in essence, please don't judge an entire country of people based on a few nasty people. If you gave yourself the chance to get to know some Americans you may find some more wonderful friends.

And give my regards to Tower Bridge!!

Thankyou for the perspective. I'm working on ridding myself of my unusual Fear. It would be exciting if we did happen to run into each other.

Weird fear

I'm afraid of "raisiny" hands, meaning the feeling one gets after getting out of a hot shower or swimming. I can't even go near someone who has just gotten out of the shower. I have trouble even typing this because it makes my throat close up and makes me really uncomfortable to think about it.. I have tried to overcome it, but it's only made it worse. Unfortunately, I can't exactly avoid it because I have to shower everyday. I don't let anyone touch me for at least an hour after I shower and I won't give my kids baths. I make my husband do it. I've never heard of anyone having this phobia before, but my family thinks it's hilarious.

here's a wierd one for ya....

hi all. i am afraid of escalators. when i was 5 or 6 i fell on one & my mom started to yell "you better hurry & get up that thing will eat you alive!!". well i'm now 37 yrs. old & cannot get on one! i know there's no logic in this but when i go to step on one to 'conquer' my fears my palms get sweaty & i just freeze! so i take the elevator or stairs!!! is this wierd? i think so haha! any suggestions? im serious about this-it really freaks me out- my friends all think im nuts!!!! help!!! thanks.

im with you!!!

I am a 26 year old that is afraid of CLOWNS! Every since i was Little. Now when i take my children out and we see a clown i go the other way. Why am i so scared of them? Maybe something happen in my past I don't know. but that 's what i am afraid of CLOWNS!!!!

hi. i am 37 & afraid of clowns as well in alot of scary movies where there are clowns they all are possessed!!! like the movie : 'poltergeist'. and even in pee-wee's movie theres a 'bad' clown!! so im w/you -clowns suck!!! eeekkkk!!!

What are you afraid of?

All my life I have been afraid to fly. It never really worried me before because I just thought well if I would have to fly to get somewhere then I guess I wont go. Well as of 2 weeks ago my best friend of 25 years has moved across the country to California. Now I worry that my fear will end up ruining our great friendship.

What Are You Afraid of Question

I have always been afraid of asking or telling people what I want to do or would like to do or ask them a question and the answer to the question would be the answer NO. When I was growing up everytime I wanted to go someplace or do something my step mom would always tell me NO but if I asked my Dad he would say yes every time within reason of course. I have always been told most of my life and I felt so left out of everything including my youth group from my church. &nbsp

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In a way I am still afraid that people is going to tell me NO but not as much as it was when I was growing up. I am pretty much on my own now and it feels so good to be able to do something without having to ask someone if I can do this or do that or go somewhere. &nbsp

Fear of Flying

Let me start by saying I am making this post as someone who has a fear of flying, but I have good reason too...

I am the kind of plane crash survivor that is usually not talked about too much unless they are hurt or killed....

I was an on the ground bystander to a major plane crash in the 1980's.

Since that incident I have studied as many plane crashes that I can when I hear about them on the news. I compare them to accidents involving other mass travel transportation vehicles. Trains, buses, and cruise ships. Here are my findings...

small planes: I seem to hear about one of these crashing every other week in my area. Usually with fatal results. But I have also heard that parachutes designed to lessen the planes crashing impact have been tested with some good results. Lets hope they can work on all planes.

large commercial planes/airliners: On Jetliners with 200 or so people, if a crash happens and there are survivors I am suprised. Oddly enough, your plane doesn't even have to be off the ground for you to be in great danger. Runway accidents often don't make news if no one was hurt. But in a recent 3 year study of American runway accident s Los Angeles airport had the most with 33. That is almost an accident a month.

Trains: Compaired to planes, train accidents barely even register even when they make the news. Almost all Am Trak accidents that I can recall had less than 10 fatalities, and often the fatalities are train employees. The worst that I know of had a death toll in the 30's or 40's because the train derailed off a bridge traping and drowning people in their cars. Passengers may be able to increase their safety depending on which car they stay in.

buses: I rarely hear about Greyhound bus accidents, and I don't know why that is. Maybe they are so common, like a regular car accident. I do hear of crashes involving tour groups,bands, classes, teams, and so forth with varying degrees of injuries and fatalties. But I don't recall any stories about all passengers on a bus perishing, as with planes.

cruise ships: As far as I know it is unlikely there will be another Titanic. I think all cruise ships are required to have adequate life boat supplies, and of course there is better communication with the mainland now a days. But there seems to be more and more reports of people disapearing on cruises. I think it is important to ....

1. If possible stay away from the deck/railing area, especially late at night when no one is around

6. make arrangements to call a friend or family member every day you are away.

I used to "white knuckle" landings, take-offs, and extreme turbulence (even the flight attendant panicked). Trying to hold the plane up with my mind through sheer force of will. I've experienced two or three runway incurrsions (sp?), a plane struck by lightening, and some kind of "air-pocket" where the plane seemed to just drop straight down. Not to mention a "humorous" pilot who dipped us sideways into the Grand Canyon. Additionally, when I fly, it's usually out of John Wayne Airport in Orange County, CA. Their take-offs (due to noise abatement rules) are so extreme that the pilots don't even like them. Very fast, and almost straight up like a rocket. Then at 1,000 feet they level out and throttle back and it feels like the plane is going to drop out of the sky. Through all of this I have become more relaxed about flying. Now that's crazy.